COLLEGE FOOTBALL '90

COLLEGE FOOTBALL '90; Lots of Volunteers for the No. 1 Spot

By Michael Sisak

Published: August 26, 1990

The New York Times Top 20 as compiled by Michael Sisak. Coaches' records are for their careers, not just for their present teams.

1. TENNESSEE

Coach: Johnny Majors (150-97-8, 22 years).

1989 record: 11-1.

Strengths: Chuck Webb (RB) returns to an explosive attack led by Andy Kelly (QB), 6-0 as a starter. The line may be the nation's best. Johnny Majors says Carl Pickens (WR) is the best athlete he ever coached, including Tony Dorsett.

Weaknesses: The defense allowed 244.1 yards passing a game last season and let Alabama score 47 points. Improvement in the pass rush and defensive ends will be evident.

Outlook: The Vols, who have won 16 of their last 17 games, play Colorado (today) on neutral turf and go to Auburn (Sept. 29) but meet Alabama (Oct. 30) and Notre Dame (Nov. 10) at home.

2. NEBRASKA

Coach: Tom Osborne (168-38-2, 17 years).

1989 record: 10-2.

Strengths: Reggie Cooper (SS), who led the Big 8 last year with four interceptions, leads seven returnees on Nebraska's quickest defense.

Weaknesses: Only two starters are back on offense and the entire backfield is new, but the Cornhuskers are merely restocking.

Outlook: The Cornhuskers should be 8-0 before their only challenge, Colorado (Nov. 3) at home.

3. VIRGINIA

Coach: George Welsh (105-86-3, 17 years).

1989 record: 10-3.

Strengths: Shawn Moore (QB), who accounted for an A.C.C.-record 27 touchdowns last year, is 15-2 as a starter. Herman Moore (WR) averaged 34.1 yards on 10 touchdowns last year. Terry Kirby (TB) was a top recruit in 1989.

Weaknesses: The offensive line is the key to an explosive attack. The linebackers need experience, including Jesse Jackson's son Jusef.

Outlook: These Cavaliers could attain higher degrees, even No. 1. Eight players are in graduate school, and they should end the 0-29 famine since 1955 against Clemson (Sept. 8) at home.

4. MIAMI (FLA.)

Coach: Dennis Erickson (61-32-1, 8 years).

1989 record: 10-1.

Strengths: The Hurricanes want to repeat and have made themselves the nation's best conditioned team. Russell Maryland (DT) and Craig Erickson (QB) could be playing in the N.F.L.

Weaknesses: The defense, with only 5 starters back, needs to mature and could be vulnerable to sharp passing early in the season. The offense, with 8 starters back, may exceed its 1989 average of 454.1 yards and 35.7 points a game.

Outlook: A tougher schedule has obstacles at B.Y.U. (Sept. 8), at Notre Dame (Oct. 20), and at home against Iowa (Sept. 29) and Florida State (Oct. 6). A 23-1 home record is in jeopardy.

5. NOTRE DAME

Coach: Lou Holtz (153-76-5, 20 years).

1989 record: 12-1.

Strengths: Raghib (Rocket) Ismail (WR) will touch the ball 40 times a game. Chris Zorich (NG) will again play like a streetfighter. Rick Mirer (QB) is a better passer than Tony Rice but his first start will be against Michigan.

Weaknesses: Without an improved pass rush, Michigan's Elvis Grbac and Miami's Craig Erickson, again, could be upsetting. The backup quarterbacks are freshmen.

Outlook: After the Miami series finale, the Irish could stumble with four of their last five games on the road, including at Tennessee (Nov. 10).

6. OHIO STATE

Coach: John Cooper (93-51-3, 13 years).

1989 record: 8-4.

Strengths: Scottie Graham (FB), 977 yards and 10 touchdowns last year, is being compared to Pete Johnson. Robert Smith (TB), who wants to be a doctor, is nation's best recruit.

Weaknesses: The tradition of outstanding linemen needs to be revived for a defense that allowed 25 points and 381 yards a game last year.

Strengths: David Rocker (DT) may be the best ever defensive player ever at Auburn.

Weaknesses: Frank McIntosh (QB), who Coach Pat Dye says is ''the least likely to get us beat,'' succeeds Reggie Slack behind a green line with one standout, 284-pound Ed King (OG).

Outlook: Auburn's best defensive line ever needs to stop Tennessee (Sept. 29) and Florida State (Oct. 20) at home.

8. FLORIDA STATE

Coach: Bobby Bowden (195-72-3, 24 years).

1989 record: 10-2.

Strengths: The Seminoles are young but talented. Lawrence Dawsey (WR) is the only returnee among the top four receivers.

Weaknesses: The offense and defense each lost seven starters, and Casey Welden (QB) is a first-time starter.

Outlook: The Seminoles should be 4-0 going into Miami (Oct. 6).

9. ILLINOIS

Coach: John Mackovic (30-27-1, 5 years).

1989 record: 10-2.

Strengths: Nine starters, led by Moe Gardner (NG), return to nation's best defense.

Weakneses: When Jeff George ran an option to the Colts for $15 million, 5-9 sophomore Jason Verduzco (QB) became a Big Ten Doug Flutie who will break in at Arizona (Sept. 8) and against Colorado (Sept. 15).

Outlook: This could have been the best Illini team ever with George. The toughest are at Ohio State (Oct. 6) and at Michigan (Nov. 10).

10. COLORADO

Coach: Bill McCartney (46-45-1, 8 years).

1989 record: 11-1.

Strengths: Eric Bieniemy (RB) and 5-8 Darian Hagan (QB), throwing more on the run, will let the Buffaloes roam. Kanavis McGhee and Alfred Williams are the best linebacking pair in the nation.

Weaknesses: There is little depth on both the offensive and the defensive lines.

Outlook: The schedule is tougher with games against Tennessee (today), at Illinois (Sept. 15), Washington (Sept. 28); and at Nebraska (Nov. 3).

11. BRIGHAM YOUNG

Coach: LaVell Edwards (165-56-1, 18 years).

1989 record: 10-3.

Strengths: Ty Detmer's career stats are 4,560 yards and 32 touchdown passes - in one year!

Weaknesses: The pass rush and the linebacking are suspect. The defense allowed 1,289 yards in back-to-back games last year.

Outlook: The opener with Miami (Sept. 8) matches Detmer with another Heisman candidate, Craig Erickson. That's the only threat.

12. TEXAS A&M

Coach: R.C. Slocum (8-4, 1 year).

1989 record: 8-4.

Strengths: Darren Lewis (HB) might be the best power runner in the nation behind a solid line.

Weaknesses: Only five starters return on defense. Two starters are new in the secondary. The top two receivers need to be replaced and Lance Pavlas (QB) is a first-time starter.

Outlook: The turmoil in the Southwest Conference helped the Aggies recruit immediate help.

Weaknesses: The Trojans could not protect their perimeter from the N.F.L. drafting Mark Carrier (CB) and Junior Seau (LB).

Outlook: The Trojans will each have 13,000 frequent flier miles after games against Syracuse in Giants Stadium on Friday night, at Washington (Sept. 22) and at Ohio State (Sept. 29).

16. CLEMSON

Coach: Ken Hatfield (new; 81-49-2, 11 years).

1989 record: 10-2.

Strengths: The defense was the fifth-best in the nation last year and 10 starters are back.

Weaknesses: DeChane Cameron (QB) is as inexperienced as the offense, without Terry Allen.

Outlook: All the tough conference games are on the road, beginning at Virginia (Sept. 8).

17. ARKANSAS

Coach: Jack Crowe (first year).

1989 record: 10-2.

Strengths: A revamped passing game with a sprint-out quarterback replaces an offense that threw infrequently.

Weaknesses: The offensive line lost four starters, the defense is young, and the coach and his staff are all new.

Outlook: Conference opponents will try to exploit Arkansas's decision to go to the Southeastern Conference. ''We'll have a target on our jerseys,'' Quinn Grovey (QB) said.

18. U.C.L.A.

Coach: Terry Donahue (111-45-8, 14 years).

1989 record: 3-7-1.

Strengths: Homer Smith returns from Alabama to be the offensive coordinator as he was from 1980-86. A casualty of the change was Bret Johnson (QB), who threw for 1,791 yards in 1989. He quit the team last week.

Weaknesses: The offensive line is being rebuilt, and the defense, weakest against the run last year, is being strengthened by transfers.

Outlook: The Bruins were better than their dismal 1989 record, having lost three times by 1 point and once by 3 before tying Southern Cal.